Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, is a historically Western occurrence. Although mainly a problem in the United States, as culture has gone global, it’s becoming more common across the globe.
All that fast food, fat, and sugar could be promoting the proliferation of IBD.
Advertisement
A recent study has found that eating a western diet can harm the immune system in the gut and may boost the risk of infections or inflammatory bowel disease.
One of the ways a high fat, high sugar diet may influence immunity is its effect on Paneth cells. Paneth cells are immune cells in the gut that are responsible for keeping inflammation in check.
When these cells become impaired, the gut becomes more prone to inflammation, and the risk for inflammatory bowel disease increases. Poorly, or non-functioning Paneth cells, for example, are a key feature of Crohn’s disease.
Researchers looked at data on 400 people and assessed their Paneth cells. They found that Body Mass Index (BMI) played a factor in the cells. The higher a person’s BMI, the worse their Paneth cells looked.
Researchers then fed healthy mice a western diet to see if it changed Paneth cell activity. It did, causing them to suggest that it wasn’t obesity, per se, that led to problems, but a high-sugar and fat diet.
Advertisement
Paneth cells in mice returned to normal after being fed a healthy diet for a couple of weeks.
There could be several factors that contribute to gut inflammation and IBD, but this data sends a strong signal that diet is part of it. Eating a western-style diet, rich in processed foods and fat and sugar, may impair the immune system and increase the risk for IBD.
The best defense is a healthier diet. Cutting back on unhealthy fats and sugar, and including more fiber, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains may be the best way to reduce the risk of IBD and potentially aid in treating the condition.
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
